Currency conversion can be?an unnecessary expense, and it?s one that you can avoid with some clever preparation for your travel, Hamm writes.
By Trent Hamm,?Guest blogger / December 14, 2012
A man counts money near a currency exchange office in Kiev in this November 2012 file photo. Take some currency with you by exchanging some dollars for your foreign currency of choice at a large bank before you leave, Hamm advises.
Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters/File
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One of the most painful parts of my international travels has been the currency conversion process. Many banks, particularly those with international branches, will happily convert currency for you, but at a price.
Skip to next paragraph Trent Hamm
The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds ? we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.
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It?s understandable why they charge a fee. They?re providing a service, and then they have to deal with converting the funds themselves.
Still, it?s an unnecessary expense, and it?s one that you can avoid with some clever preparation for your travel.
The first suggestion I have is that,?if you?re traveling internationally, plan to put many of your expenses on plastic.?Use a credit card for as many things as you can so that you don?t have to deal with the currency swaps.?
Scientists have used powerful X-rays from the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, to study and measure, in atomic detail, a key process at work in extreme plasmas like those found in stars, the rims of black holes and other massive cosmic phenomena.
The results explain why observations from orbiting X-ray telescopes do not match theoretical predictions, and pave the way for future X-ray astrophysics research using free-electron lasers such as LCLS. With its brilliant, ultrafast X-ray laser pulses, LCLS allows scientists to create and measure atomic processes in extreme plasmas in a fully controlled way for the first time.
The study, initiated by the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, included scientists from NASA, SLAC and several universities. The 28-person team dissected a process in multi-million-degree space plasmas that produces some of the brightest cosmic X-ray signals. The results were published this week in Nature.
"Measurements conducted at the LCLS will be important for interpreting X-ray emissions from a plethora of sources, including black holes, X-ray binaries, stellar coronae and supernova remnants, to name a few," said Gregory V. Brown, a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who participated in the research.
Most astrophysical objects emit X-rays, produced by highly charged particles in superhot gases or other extreme environments. To model and analyze the extreme forces and conditions that generate those emissions, scientists use a combination of computer simulations and observations from space telescopes, such as NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton.
But in the case of an "Fe16-plus" iron ion ?? an iron nucleus with only 10 orbiting electrons, as opposed to the usual 26 ? these indirect methods produced conflicting results. Fe16-plus is of particular interest because it produces some of the brightest cosmic X-ray signals. But satellite measurements show those signals are more than 30 percent dimmer than leading theories predict, Brown said. Many researchers thought this was because computer models failed to accurately depict collisions between the iron ions and electrons.
So the scientists turned to direct measurements in the laboratory. At the LCLS, they created and trapped Fe16-plus ions using a device known as an electron beam ion trap, or EBIT. Then they used the X-ray laser to probe and measure the properties of the ions.
To their surprise, they discovered that collisions with electrons were not a factor at all. "Our results show that the problem, or at least a large part of the problem, lies in our ability to model the structure of the ions," which is crucial for understanding the larger physical processes taking place in celestial sources, Brown said.
Some of the collaborating scientists have already begun working on new calculations to improve the atomic-scale astrophysical models, while others analyze data from follow-up experiments conducted at LCLS in April. If they succeed, LCLS may see an increase in experiments related to astrophysics.
"Almost everything we know in astrophysics comes from spectroscopy," said team member Maurice Leutenegger of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center who participated in the study. Spectroscopy is used to measure and study X-ray and other energy signatures, and the LCLS results are valuable in a "wide variety of astrophysical contexts," he said.
The EBIT instrument used in the experiments was developed at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and will be available to the entire community of scientists doing research at the LCLS.
Sven Bernitt, a graduate student from Heidelberg, was in charge of the campaign, which was run by a collaboration led by Jos? R. Crespo Lopez-Urrutia and Peter Beiersdorfer. Bernitt recalled the strenuous work in moving four tons of equipment from Germany to SLAC and preparing, commissioning, and conducting the experiments at LCLS: "We all had very little sleep for weeks in a row, but the scientific payoff was well worth it."
The experiments were performed at the LCLS Soft X-ray (SXR) instrument, a facility supported by the DOE's Office of Science. Researchers from the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, and Giessen, Bochum, Erlangen-Nuremberg and Heidelberg universities in Germany; Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at SLAC; and TRIUMF in Canada also collaborated in the experiments.
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DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: http://www.slac.stanford.edu
Thanks to DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for this article.
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Becoming an electrician starts with getting the right schooling. One can start quite early, even in High School. Many vocational programs in secondary schools have an electrical program. Following High School graduation, one can enter a program at a college to further their learning. Community colleges often have excellent trades program, including electrical. In addition to their typical general education courses like math and English, students will take practical courses where they learn both the science behind the trade and also get to apply and learn new skills in hands-on work. If one desires to learn more about the scientific end of things, they can attend a four year college that offers advanced programs like electrical engineering or similar majors. Community colleges are great because they offer students practical experience.
One can also do some extra work on their own to increase their skills and education. It is a great idea to find an experienced individual who works in the field and get close to them. An experienced worker can offer electrician training in the form of an apprenticeship or might be able to hire a student to work for them. They can also share the pros and cons of the industry, as well as stories from on the job. This will give the young student a better idea of what daily life is like as an electrical worker, and help them decide if this is really the field that they want to devote their life to. Working with a professional can help one meet others in the field and perhaps potential future customers. The pro may also have some suggestions for training programs or courses that the aspiring electrician can take advantage of. They can serve as a reference for the student's resume.
Before one can be successful in industry, they must have to proper education and training. Fortunately, budding electrical workers have many options to help them reach their goals and better themselves.
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Contact: Peter Vietti onrcsc@onr.navy.mil 703-696-5031 Office of Naval Research
ARLINGTON, Va.The Office of Naval Research (ONR), a leader in the exploration of renewable power, played a major role in the development of a new "World Green City" unveiled here on Dec. 12 as a prototype community powered by alternative energy sources.
Keeping in line with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert's recently announced 2013-2017 Navigation Planwhich calls for improving operational energy efficiency by investing in new technologiesthe World Green City boasts the latest in renewable power, including a direct-current (DC) microgrid funded by ONR's Sea Warfare and Weapons Department.
Dr. Richard T. Carlin, head of the department, spoke to international leaders and scientists during the opening ceremony of the World Green City and Eco-Product Exhibition 2012.
"The World Green City provides an opportunity to evaluate and understand the implementation of renewable energy technologies in a real-world microgrid," Carlin said. "Such microgrids make possible sustainable, decentralized power systems that are applicable to many communities, especially remote communities, as well as forward-deployed naval operational bases. Our partnership with Chiang Mai Rajabhat University will benefit communities in Thailand and ultimately communities across the Asia Pacific region."
The idea for the microgrid began two years ago when Dr. Wattanapong Rakwichian, executive director of the Asian Development Institute for Community Economy and Technology (adiCET) at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, discussed his vision for a "green" campus with ONR officials at a workshop on alternative and renewable energy funded by ONR.
Located on the new Saluang-Keelek campus of Chiang Mai Rajabhat University in Northern Thailand, the World Green City now includes about 20 buildings over 200 acres operating on renewable power from solar cells.
"With support from ONR, we have created a model community that applies smart technologies and renewable energies into the green living style," said Dr. "Watt," as he is affectionately called. "As a result, we hope that our World Green City will serve as a model for developing the rest of the smart communities in Thailand and other parts of Asia."
The DC system takes power from an array of solar cells and delivers it to houses, businesses, classrooms and offices on the campus without having to convert to alternating current (AC). This saves money and eliminates the need for DC-to-AC power conversion equipment, and the associated losses of the conversion process. The research also features innovations in the development of smart microgrids, which manage power production, storage and distribution.
Research in this area could lead to smaller, portable DC power plants that can be set up quickly for use during emergencies, without the need for fossil fuels. Such systems could find use in various naval applications.
"It's ideal for a small rural village and also island communities," said Capt. Paul Marshall, interim associate director for Power and Energy for ONR Global and project officer from the ONR Reserve Component. "If you have a community living on an island disconnected from the main power grid, they need to be able to produce their own power, which can be managed by having a microgrid on the island. In a way, it's analogous to a ship at sea. Some of these technologies being researched could someday be used in naval applications."
Ken Foster, consul general of the U.S. Department of State's Consulate General in Chiang Mai, praised the collaboration between ONR and the local university during his remarks at the opening ceremony for the World Green City.
"As the U.S. Department of State celebrates 180 years of friendship between the United States and Thailand, we are pleased to witness another partnership success story between the U.S. Office of Naval Research and Chiang Mai Rajabhat University," Foster said. "We congratulate these partners for establishing real-world renewable energy research in northern Thailand, and connecting environmental innovators across sectors and across the globe."
The forum began with an opening speech from Thailand's Vice Minister of the Ministry of Energy, and a ribbon cutting for the World Green City. In addition to the opening ceremony, ONR representatives are attending, presenting and moderating at the third annual Workshop on Alternative and Renewable Energy for Sustainability and the World Alternative Energy Forum while in Thailand.
###
ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Peter Vietti onrcsc@onr.navy.mil 703-696-5031 Office of Naval Research
ARLINGTON, Va.The Office of Naval Research (ONR), a leader in the exploration of renewable power, played a major role in the development of a new "World Green City" unveiled here on Dec. 12 as a prototype community powered by alternative energy sources.
Keeping in line with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert's recently announced 2013-2017 Navigation Planwhich calls for improving operational energy efficiency by investing in new technologiesthe World Green City boasts the latest in renewable power, including a direct-current (DC) microgrid funded by ONR's Sea Warfare and Weapons Department.
Dr. Richard T. Carlin, head of the department, spoke to international leaders and scientists during the opening ceremony of the World Green City and Eco-Product Exhibition 2012.
"The World Green City provides an opportunity to evaluate and understand the implementation of renewable energy technologies in a real-world microgrid," Carlin said. "Such microgrids make possible sustainable, decentralized power systems that are applicable to many communities, especially remote communities, as well as forward-deployed naval operational bases. Our partnership with Chiang Mai Rajabhat University will benefit communities in Thailand and ultimately communities across the Asia Pacific region."
The idea for the microgrid began two years ago when Dr. Wattanapong Rakwichian, executive director of the Asian Development Institute for Community Economy and Technology (adiCET) at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, discussed his vision for a "green" campus with ONR officials at a workshop on alternative and renewable energy funded by ONR.
Located on the new Saluang-Keelek campus of Chiang Mai Rajabhat University in Northern Thailand, the World Green City now includes about 20 buildings over 200 acres operating on renewable power from solar cells.
"With support from ONR, we have created a model community that applies smart technologies and renewable energies into the green living style," said Dr. "Watt," as he is affectionately called. "As a result, we hope that our World Green City will serve as a model for developing the rest of the smart communities in Thailand and other parts of Asia."
The DC system takes power from an array of solar cells and delivers it to houses, businesses, classrooms and offices on the campus without having to convert to alternating current (AC). This saves money and eliminates the need for DC-to-AC power conversion equipment, and the associated losses of the conversion process. The research also features innovations in the development of smart microgrids, which manage power production, storage and distribution.
Research in this area could lead to smaller, portable DC power plants that can be set up quickly for use during emergencies, without the need for fossil fuels. Such systems could find use in various naval applications.
"It's ideal for a small rural village and also island communities," said Capt. Paul Marshall, interim associate director for Power and Energy for ONR Global and project officer from the ONR Reserve Component. "If you have a community living on an island disconnected from the main power grid, they need to be able to produce their own power, which can be managed by having a microgrid on the island. In a way, it's analogous to a ship at sea. Some of these technologies being researched could someday be used in naval applications."
Ken Foster, consul general of the U.S. Department of State's Consulate General in Chiang Mai, praised the collaboration between ONR and the local university during his remarks at the opening ceremony for the World Green City.
"As the U.S. Department of State celebrates 180 years of friendship between the United States and Thailand, we are pleased to witness another partnership success story between the U.S. Office of Naval Research and Chiang Mai Rajabhat University," Foster said. "We congratulate these partners for establishing real-world renewable energy research in northern Thailand, and connecting environmental innovators across sectors and across the globe."
The forum began with an opening speech from Thailand's Vice Minister of the Ministry of Energy, and a ribbon cutting for the World Green City. In addition to the opening ceremony, ONR representatives are attending, presenting and moderating at the third annual Workshop on Alternative and Renewable Energy for Sustainability and the World Alternative Energy Forum while in Thailand.
###
ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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According to the IEA?s World Energy Outlook 2012, the US will become a net energy exporter by 2035, due to technological developments which have increased the extraction efficiency of both oil and natural gas wells.
Many hope that upon achieving energy independence, the US would also earn some freedom from the Middle East and the constant troubles and conflicts that it gets involved in. In fact as an energy exporter it may find itself with more power over other nations.
This hope of liberation from world energy politics as a result of energy independence offers a huge over-simplification the situation, and of how energy runs through the core of our society.
Many issues stand in the way of the US being able to declare energy independence, to such an extent that many experts are uncertain if it is even possible. Firstly there are technical issues, such as how easy it will be to develop deep-water oil rigs, hydraulic fracturing wells, and oil sands extraction technologies on a large scale. Economic issues arise with the possibility that trying to extract the oil using these costly methods could raise its price and mean that it cannot compete with oil on the international market that has been extracted from cheaper, traditional sources.
Related Article: Keystone XL: Welcome to the Proxy Energy War
Then there is also the fact that if by some fortune the US does manage to achieve energy independence, it does not mean that it can leave the Middle East. Some of its relationships there are multidimensional and will not be voided so easily.
Truly, in a world of economic interdependence the US economy is just as vulnerable to other economies as ever. Even if it managed to achieve energy independence, it could never achieve economic independence, and whilst the other countries rely on energy imports and exports the US will be affected by the international energy market.
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Public release date: 13-Dec-2012
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Winner ? Writer?s Digest Best Writer?s Site ? Critters Best Writer?s Info The "World?s Foremost Writing Guru" Wants to Make YOU a Very Special Offer ? My Entire Easy Writing System ? Available Right Now!